basement-bathroom-plumbing

basement-bathroom-plumbing, or sub-rough plumbing, has to be installed before pouring the flatwork cement.

Your plumber will use a plumbing diagram to establish where your plumbing needs to be placed. Then he will create the plumbing pipes configuration that is found below the basement floor or below the slab if your home is built on a slab.

After it is ready, then gravel is spread around the entire sub-rough plumbing, and under the entire basement or slab floor area. The cement will be poured over the top of the gravel. Sometimes the gravel is spread before the plumbing and then the plumber has to dig the area where his plumbing lines will go.

This gravel base provides a solid foundation for the cement to rest on. In addition, it provides drainage in case your ground water builds up for any reason against or under the house.

Preparing adequate drainage before flatwork

Before the flatwork cement is poured for the basement floor, your sub rough plumbing will need to be done. Then you need 2-4 inches of gravel spread out on the ground to cover the sub rough plumbing and provide adequate drainage under the cement.

Ask your excavator to give you an itemized bid for labor and materials. Then you can check the price of gravel yourself and supply it yourself if your price is significantly better than your Excavator's price.

Also, check with your excavator to see what he would charge to supply gravel but if you use him, make sure you get it in writing in the contract!

As you build your house plan, remember that you must contact the plumber to notify him in advance of starting the footings and foundations. He will be doing the subrough plumbing after the footings and foundation are finished. See what his work load is like and "how far out" he is. Then tell him that you hope to be ready for the subrough plumbing by "X" date.

He'll put you on his calendar or tell you when he can be there. It's OK if things don't work out quite as planned. All you have to do is call him and keep him updated, and he'll reschedule you for your basement-bathroom-plumbing if needs be.